Mortality of woody plants in tropical monsoon rainforests of Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, South China

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims We examined the mortality of woody plants in different functional groups, different diameter classes and different site conditions to understand the status and variation of woody plant mortality in the tropical monsoon rainforest (TMRF) communities on Hainan Island.

Methods We established 15 plots (50 m × 50 m) in old-growth TMRF in Bawangling Nature Reserve of Hainan Island. Each plot was divided into 10 m × 10 m subplots to measure the height, diameter at breast height (DBH) of individuals with DBH ≥ 1.0 cm and live or dead status by species. Site conditions, such as slope gradient, slope aspect, slope position and distance to the rivers were recorded. We categorized woody plants into different functional groups, and stems into different diameter classes.

Important findings Overall mortality rate of woody plants ranged from 3.42% to 18.71% (mean of 7.60%). The mortality rate was higher for trees than shrubs, for deciduous species than evergreen species and for unarmed species than spinescent species. The mortality rate of the TMRF community was > 10% for 5-30 cm DBH and was highest for 5-10 cm DBH. Within the 1-5 cm same diameter class, mortality of deciduous species was higher than evergreen species, and no significant differences were found in other diameter classes. No significant difference was found between mortality of spinescent and unarmed species in any diameter class. Tree mortality rate and distance to the rivers were directly correlated. Mortalities of deciduous species and unarmed species were correlated with slope position, with the mortality rates on upper slope position higher than at mid-slope position. The closest relationships were between mortality rate and community habitats, and drought was one of important causes of mortality.

Key words: diameter classes, environment factor, functional group, mortality rate, tropical monsoon rainforest

LIU Wan-De, ZANG Run-Guo, DING Yi, ZHANG Wei-Yin, SU Jian-Rong, YANG Min, CAI Du-Lei, LI Ru-Cai. Mortality of woody plants in tropical monsoon rainforests of Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, South China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(8): 946-956.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.007

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I8/946

Figures/Tables 7

Table 1 Number of dead individuals and stem mortality rate in the tropical monsoon rainforest

指标 Index	最大值 Maximum	最小值 Minimum	平均值 Mean
死亡株数 No. of dead individuals (ind.·hm^-2)	2 136	164	679.6
树木死亡率 Stem mortality rate (%)	18.71	3.42	7.60

Fig. 1 Mortality rates of different functional groups in the tropical monsoon rainforest. * , p < 0.05, **, p < 0.01, *** , p < 0.001.

Fig. 2 Mortality rate of different functional groups in different diameter classes. Different letters at the tops of bars indicate significant difference (p < 0.05). DBH, diameter of breast height. I, 1 cm ≤ DBH < 5 cm; II, 5 cm ≤ DBH < 10 cm; III, 10 cm ≤ DBH < 20 cm; IV, 20 cm ≤ DBH < 30 cm; V, 30 cm ≤ DBH < 40 cm; VI, DBH ≥ 40 cm.

Fig. 3 Mortality rates of different functional groups species in the same DBH classes. DBH, I-VI see Fig. 2. * , p < 0.05.

Table 2 Correlation analysis between mortality rates and environment variables

功能群 Functional group	距河流距离 Distance to rivers	坡向 Slope aspect	坡位 Slope position	坡度 Slope gradient	郁闭度 Canopy density	裸岩面积 Area of exposed rock	海拔 Elevation
灌木 Shrub	0.47	-0.24	0.05	0.05	0.20	0.22	0.27
乔木 Tree	0.83^**	-0.48	-0.14	0.02	0.29	0.03	0.54
常绿树种 Evergreen species	0.34	-0.28	-0.09	-0.02	0.31	-0.39	0.41
落叶树种 Deciduous species	0.21	-0.05	-0.52^*	0.36	0.03	0.42	-0.12
无刺树种 Species without thorn	0.38	-0.35	-0.54^*	0.16	0.18	0.13	0.01
具刺树种 Spinescent species	0.42	0.12	-0.15	0.49	0.27	0.23	0.25
合计 Total	0.37	-0.28	-0.41	0.27	0.13	-0.12	0.19

Fig. 4 Variations of mortality rates of different functional groups with site conditions and slops position. Different letters at the tops of bars indicate significant difference (p < 0.05). SH, shrub; TR, tree; ES, evergreen species; DS, deciduous species; ND, species without thorn; SS, spinescent species; TL, total.

Fig. 5 Monthly precipitations in 2007-2008 at Bawangling in Hainan Island.

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